Ruggabellus & Clonakilla

I got an invitation from Quaffable Wines to try out two producers from Aussie land.

Ruggabellus
Abel Gibson makes these fine wines in Barossa, from where we all have drunk some heavy, heavy wines, sporting alcohol levels on 16+... But Abel does a whole other Barossa version, he picks early to, as he says, "preserve vitatily, crunch and intrigue". The red wines are, inspired by one grape, that is the dominate grape in the wine. He uses no new oak. Very fine wines.

2015 Fluus
There is lightness and purity to the nose with notes of anise, flowers, red fruit and some rubbery scents. Very good.
The taste is young and fresh with notes of herbs, bakelite, red currants and tobacco. A medium long finish. For the short term drinking.
87p   (tasted 2017/02)

2015 Timaeus
This 83% Grenache, 7% Mataro, 7% Cinsault, 3% Syrah blend has a fine, herbal nose with notes of ripe raspberries, dusty earth and freshly sawn fir. High and fine.
The taste is tight and dry with notes of lingonberries, dried raspberries, herbs and dry liquorice. Long and fine, with a fine acidity. Very, very good. Only 1.320 bottles made.
90p   (tasted 2017/02)

2015 Efferus
Made out of 72% Mataro, or as I know it better as, Mourvédre and the rest is Grenache, Syrah och Cinsault. This beauty sports a deep, meaty nose with notes of ripe blueberies, damsons and wood smoke. Very, very good.
The taste is tight and pure with notes of blueberries, black olives, meat and earth. A very fine structure. Long and fine. Really good. 1.986 bottles made, and some of them are going in my cellar.
93p   (tasted 2017/02)

2015 Archaeus
This is the Syrah dominated wine with 79% Syrah and the rest is Grenache, Mataro and Cinsault. The nose is deep and tight with notes of ripe blackberries, peppered meat, smoke and dark tobacco. A very fine depth.
The taste is complex and tight with notes of veal meat, blueberries, tobacco and fresh herbs. A long, intense finish. Very, very good.
91p   (tasted 2017/02)

Clonakilla
Tim Kirk has been making wine at Clonakilla since 1978 and is the one of the first, if not the first, to make a modern, elegant expression of Shiraz from Australia. I have always have great experiences with the wines from here, for instance the 1999 Shiraz Viognier.

2014 Hilltops Shiraz
An open, accessible nose with notes of warm spices, blueberries, crushed black peppers and a hint of dark chocolate.
The taste is spicy and warm with notes of blueberries, veal stock and spices. Long with a dry ending. Very, very good.
88p   (tasted 2017/02)

2014 O´Riada Shiraz
A big, serious, spicy nose with notes of peppered blueberries, ripe flowers and some tobacco scents. A very fine depth. This is good.
The taste is tight and peppery with notes of warm herbs, blueberries, dried flowers and meat. Very long and structured. Give this 3-5 years.
92p   (tasted 2017/02)

2014 Shiraz Viognier
Oooh boy, what a stunner! A intense, spicy, ethereal nose with notes of raw meat, ripe blueberries, sweet flowers and freshly chrushed black peppers. Really, really fine.
The taste is cool, concentrated and just gorgeous with a striking balance between the fruit, acidity, and tannins. Long, long and harmonious. Brilliant. Will be even better in 4-6 years. A must for the cellar.
96p   (tasted 2017/02)